Firefighters watch as home burns to the ground. What do you guys think?

[Soul Crusher]

I dunno... the story has made national news.  You can bet your ass, if any getbigger is suddenly asked for $75 for FireCare, we'll probably use our McGriddle $ on fire insurance, and pay it early too.

I'd be interested in how many notices he got in the mail.  He "forgot"... I bet there were 3 or 5 notices.

Why are you doing fist pumps over obamacare going to people who never paid in anything but condeming this man as deserving the death penalty for failing to pay a 75 charge?   

[240 is Back]

Why are you doing fist pumps over obamacare going to people who never paid in anything but condeming this man as deserving the death penalty for failing to pay a 75 charge?   

you must have missed the 17,000 times I said i'm against obamacare.

[George Whorewell]

Solution: Cut all federal, state and local aid to everyone who doesn't pay taxes. Also, cut all emergency services.

Result: Watch anarchy ensue.

Do you really think that a lesson is learned or a point is made by allowing someones house to burn down?

Many people do not buy medical insurance in this country until after they get sick. When they try to buy, does the insurance company say- "Tough luck, we won't take your money now, you can have your leg amuptated?"

Of course not. The person may have to pay more, but after the fact- and the hospital will never turn you away.

[240 is Back]

HAHAHAHA

I love it.  MSNBC's Keith Olbermann's #1 story tonight - How wrong it was for them not to put out the fire.

BILLY and I are on the wrong side of Olbermann on this one - but 333386 and he are in complete agreement.  LOL... I guess if you argue long enough, you reach that point!

[240 is Back]

HAHAHAHA

I love it.  MSNBC's Keith Olbermann's #1 story tonight - How wrong it was for them not to put out the fire.

BILLY and I are on the wrong side of Olbermann on this one - but 333386 and he are in complete agreement.  LOL... I guess if you argue long enough, you reach that point!

LOL - Glenn beck bashing the shit out of Olbermann and his "A la carte government" thinking.

Apparently, Beck also said he would let his neighbor's house down for $75.  Link, anyone?  I love it!!

[MB_722]

wait a sec, don't taxes pay for fire coverage? wtf is with the $75 fee?

[outby43]

wait a sec, don't taxes pay for fire coverage? wtf is with the $75 fee?

No doubt I pay taxes for that shit.

 Same as this loser in my subdivision who doesn't pay his assessment fees.  The other neighbors have to pay his part of the fees to cover snow removal, road maintenance, etc.  If he ever moves he will owe that money.

That douche deserved everything he got with his house burning down.  Screw him and all the rest of these free loaders.

[240 is Back]

No doubt I pay taxes for that shit.

 Same as this loser in my subdivision who doesn't pay his assessment fees.  The other neighbors have to pay his part of the fees to cover snow removal, road maintenance, etc.  If he ever moves he will owe that money.

That douche deserved everything he got with his house burning down.  Screw him and all the rest of these free loaders.

Beck agrees with you.  Olbermann and 333386 disagree with you.

[tu_holmes]

I don't have an issue perse, but don't you think that it's a bit wasteful to let a entire house burn down over 75 bucks?

Just seems like something better could have been done.

[MM2K]

They HAD to let the house burn down. Its not just an issue over 75$. Its over 75$ times the amount of people that live there. Because that is the amount of people who wouldnt pay if they knew they could pay after the house burned down. Even if you charged a lot after the fact, you would still have a lot of poeple not pay because that is a risk a lot of people would take. How many people's houses catch fire? It just like insurance. Oh, that's right, I forgot. Some people in this board seem to think that you can have insurance if people buy it ownly when they get sick.  Really, Im surprised at a lot of you in this thread.

[The True Adonis]

Sick fucking people in this thread.  Sick fuckign rule abider protocol whores.  Sometimes human decency should win out over pointless rules.


The majority of you are worthless in my opinion if you are willing to sit by and watch a man`s life go up in flames over a nonsensical matter of 75 dollars.

If not for the mans sake, at least for the animals inside. 

[tonymctones]

Sick fucking people in this thread.  Sick fuckign rule abider protocol whores.  Sometimes human decency should win out over pointless rules.


The majority of you are worthless in my opinion if you are willing to sit by and watch a man`s life go up in flames over a nonsensical matter of 75 dollars.

If not for the mans sake, at least for the animals inside. 

you mean like when an intentionally blantant offensive mosque is put up near ground zero in a building acutally damaged by the events of 9/11?

of course not, not then right TA?

I agree they should have put the fire out and then charged him an outrageous sum. He doesnt pay taxes to this though so I can see why there are ppl out there who feel he shouldnt get something that he didnt pay for.

[The True Adonis]

you mean like when an intentionally blantant offensive mosque is put up near ground zero in a building acutally damaged by the events of 9/11?

of course not, not then right TA?

I agree they should have put the fire out and then charged him an outrageous sum. He doesnt pay taxes to this though so I can see why there are ppl out there who feel he shouldnt get something that he didnt pay for.

All churches of any religions should be turned into Bakeries, Restaurants, Museums, Gyms/Fitness Centers etc...


I would be happiest if not a single church, mosque or synagoguge was built from this day forth.

However, I believe the constitution is correct in allowing people to worship or not worship as they choose and location is irrelevant to me.

As an atheist I think all places of worship are pointless and/or useless. Only when the population stops believing in fairy tales and myth, superstition and embrace reason, Science and education will we rid ourselves of this nonsensical bullshit.

[Agnostic007]

They HAD to let the house burn down. Its not just an issue over 75$. Its over 75$ times the amount of people that live there. Because that is the amount of people who wouldnt pay if they knew they could pay after the house burned down. Even if you charged a lot after the fact, you would still have a lot of poeple not pay because that is a risk a lot of people would take. How many people's houses catch fire? It just like insurance. Oh, that's right, I forgot. Some people in this board seem to think that you can have insurance if people buy it ownly when they get sick.  Really, Im surprised at a lot of you in this thread.

I agree. It wasn't just the $75 it was the fact they opted out of the contract with the department and chose not to pay unlike their neighbor. We say we want personal responsibility then we complain about the fire department when Joe Blow make the decision not to participate in the program. Having said that, I don't know what information the fire department had.. I know 911 here will ask, "Is there anyone in the house?" so maybe they knew no one was.. but IF it wasn't clear, then they should respond to protect life.. insure everyone is out.. but as far as the property and all the stuff, while it is tragic, they had no obligation to risk injury putting out the fire.   

[The Showstoppa]

I agree. It wasn't just the $75 it was the fact they opted out of the contract with the department and chose not to pay unlike their neighbor. We say we want personal responsibility then we complain about the fire department when Joe Blow make the decision not to participate in the program. Having said that, I don't know what information the fire department had.. I know 911 here will ask, "Is there anyone in the house?" so maybe they knew no one was.. but IF it wasn't clear, then they should respond to protect life.. insure everyone is out.. but as far as the property and all the stuff, while it is tragic, they had no obligation to risk injury putting out the fire.   

Very clear and concise post.

[Soul Crusher]

Guys lets say this occured:


Instead of fire, the town had a $75 fee for paramedic services.   911 got a call that a man was having a heart attack in the street.  The emt shows up, calls the town tax clerk, and realizes the man never paid the fee of $75. 

Would it be ok to let the man die in the street over $75?   

[The Showstoppa]

Guys lets say this occured:


Instead of fire, the town had a $75 fee for paramedic services.   911 got a call that a man was having a heart attack in the street.  The emt shows up, calls the town tax clerk, and realizes the man never paid the fee of $75. 

Would it be ok to let the man die in the street over $75?   

I'd say no.  Just like if there was a threat to human life in the house that was on fire, they should have at least attempted to save the person.  Protection of life far outweighs protection of property, imo.

[The True Adonis]

You fucking people just LOVE to obey whatever the local, state or federal government tells you to do or tells you to pay.  It makes you feel privileged doesn`t it.  I personally think Conservatives LOVE taxes and LOVE paying them since they are the first to brag about doing so and they think it entitles them to treat all other people like shit (even if the other pay as well).  They LOVE Bureaucracy, especially when it pits them against whatever adversary they choose at the moment on an illogical whim.

Human decency and wisdom (especially Utilitarian Wisdom) should always trump protocol.



Now here is a good video which illustrates my point:

Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.

[Soul Crusher]

What i find ironic here is that many people get all pissed off when an Eagle Scout gets kicked out of school and expelled for having a swiss army knife with the eating utensils under ZERO TOLERANCE policies, yet are almost gleeful that this guys house got torched.   

[The Showstoppa]

TA, isn't one of your big things how certain entities are "socialist" in nature, ie: police depts, fire depts, military....and what "entitles" people to these things are there being a tax paying citizen?  The moral side of the equation can't be used, as it would just depend on the individuals ethics.  For example, what if a cop is called to an altercation between 2 drug dealers where they are firing shots at each other.....is he morally obligated to try to stop it?  What if he doesn't know they are drug dealers and just look like a couple of teens? 

You can't run these types of organizations based on moral relativism.....sorry.

I'll kick it up a notch.....I think the dipshits who wander off into the woods and get "lost" should have to pay every cent back that it takes to rescue them.  Absolutely idiotic that taxpayers foot the bill for these people. Or perhaps they should purchase some type of insurance that covers it.

[Soul Crusher]

TA, isn't one of your big things how certain entities are "socialist" in nature, ie: police depts, fire depts, military....and what "entitles" people to these things are there being a tax paying citizen?  The moral side of the equation can't be used, as it would just depend on the individuals ethics.  For example, what if a cop is called to an altercation between 2 drug dealers where they are firing shots at each other.....is he morally obligated to try to stop it?  What if he doesn't know they are drug dealers and just look like a couple of teens? 

You can't run these types of organizations based on moral relativism.....sorry.

I'll kick it up a notch.....I think the dipshits who wander off into the woods and get "lost" should have to pay every cent back that it takes to rescue them.  Absolutely idiotic that taxpayers foot the bill for these people. Or perhaps they should purchase some type of insurance that covers it.

Yes, but they did not give this guy that chance, even though he offered to pay whatever it cost.    They just ignored that and let it burn. 

[The Showstoppa]

Yes, but they did not give this guy that chance, even though he offered to pay whatever it cost.    They just ignored that and let it burn. 

But you know there is a difference between paying a fee, which is what he offered, and paying insurance premiums.  Premiums being designed to keep everybodys cost down, which obviously this didn't give two shits about until it affected him directly.  And firefighters wouldn't have the authority to make that call on the spot anyway.....what if they bust their ass to save it and the guy can't pay?  Yeah, I know they could put a lien, but I just think it's crazy to start asking police and firemen to make these type of judgement calls on the spot in a very tense situation. 

[The True Adonis]

TA, isn't one of your big things how certain entities are "socialist" in nature, ie: police depts, fire depts, military....and what "entitles" people to these things are there being a tax paying citizen?  The moral side of the equation can't be used, as it would just depend on the individuals ethics.  For example, what if a cop is called to an altercation between 2 drug dealers where they are firing shots at each other.....is he morally obligated to try to stop it?  What if he doesn't know they are drug dealers and just look like a couple of teens? 

You can't run these types of organizations based on moral relativism.....sorry.

I'll kick it up a notch.....I think the dipshits who wander off into the woods and get "lost" should have to pay every cent back that it takes to rescue them.  Absolutely idiotic that taxpayers foot the bill for these people. Or perhaps they should purchase some type of insurance that covers it.

I support a True Socialist Tax system that entails a National Sales Tax with no Tax on Used goods and essentials to life.  I do not support our current Tax system or the IRS one bit.

[Soul Crusher]

But you know there is a difference between paying a fee, which is what he offered, and paying insurance premiums.  Premiums being designed to keep everybodys cost down, which obviously this didn't give two shits about until it affected him directly.  And firefighters wouldn't have the authority to make that call on the spot anyway.....what if they bust their ass to save it and the guy can't pay?  Yeah, I know they could put a lien, but I just think it's crazy to start asking police and firemen to make these type of judgement calls on the spot in a very tense situation. 

I am not saying no, but to me the end result of letting this house burn like that is so draconian compared to the offense as to seem out of porportion.  

Most things can be dealt with after the fact than simply allow things to burn down like this.   Lets say the total cost was $10,000.  

If the guy did not pay up as he said he could, they could put a lien on the house, garnish his wages, siezxe the property, etc.  


Now that the house is burned down, the guy will be paying no real estate taxes, probably have to move to a shelter and go on welfare or something, all over a $75 fee is stupidly did not pay.  

I agree the guy was a total jerk, but to me the offense should not warrant a result like this considering the guy offered to pay the actual amount.    

[The Showstoppa]

I support a True Socialist Tax system that entails a National Sales Tax with no Tax on Used goods and essentials to life.  I do not support our current Tax system or the IRS one bit.

I actually agree with you to a large extent on this.

But, I really meant more directly that it is a very slippery slope when we decide to let firefighters, policemen and military members just make their own morally relative judgement in each situation.

If any of these firefighters had gone in and died in the fire, I will guarantee the insurance company (who you and I both know how they operate) would have tried to use the guy not having paid the fee as a way of denying a policy being paid on.  And you know that is true....